Governance

Board Members

Dr. Walter PeetersBoard Member

Professor Peeters achieved a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering, MBA (University of Louvain, Belgium), and a Doctorate of Engineering in Industrial Organisation (Technical University of Delft, the Netherlands). He is currently President of the International Space University and formerly was with ESA since 1983 after initial activities in industry (construction, petrochemical). He was involved in ESA project control and coordination on the Hermes project and the EUROMIR flights with Russia, among others. Former Head of the Coordination Office of the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne. He is a lecturer in Space Marketing (Technical University of Delft) and former visiting professor in Non-profit Marketing (Catholic University of Louvain).

Mr. John SheathTreasurer & Secretary

John is a Chartered Director, independent NED & business consultant, specialising in Risk & Corporate Governance, Business Development and Business Improvement. He is an Ambassador for the Institute of Directors Chartered Director programme and an experienced Funds director.

With a wide international experience including banking, captive & mutual insurance, funds, fiduciary services and even manufacturing industry. He has worked closely with professionals & Government representatives in the IoM, UK, Channel Islands, Middle East, Singapore, Hong Kong and other European jurisdictions, maintaining strong relations with all relevant regulators and influencing bodies.

He provides oversight and governance to several regulated businesses, engages directly with IoM Government and the Space industry. John is passionate about learning and technology.

Mr. Christopher StottBoard Member

Chris Stott is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ManSat, the company he cofounded with his father, Bryan, in 1998. In 2000 he left his position as Director of International Commercialisation and Sales with Lockheed Martin Space Operations to become ManSat's President. Prior to his work with Lockheed Martin, Chris was an executive with the McDonnell Douglas and the Boeing Company working in International Business Development on the Delta Launch Vehicle program.

Chris received his Masters degree (MSc) from the International Space University in Strasbourg, France in 1996, where he has served on Faculty since 2003 and is a former Co-Chair of the School of Management and Business. He also serves as Faculty at Singularity University and is a Guest Lecturer for the TED Fellows program.

Chris is a long time supporter of Space and S.T.E.M. education and serves in this capacity on the Boards of the Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI), where he serves as President of the SSPI, the International Space University (ISU), the Challenger Foundation, the Conrad Foundation, the United Space School, and the International Institute of Space a Commerce. He is also a strong proponent of Social Entrepreneurism, Co-Chairing the Manna Energy Foundation and Geeks Without Frontiers working to bring clean water, clean energy, and clean telecoms to the world via the power of market economics. He is also a founder of Odyssey Moon Ltd. (recently acquired by Space Services Holdings).

An author and published Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, the International Institute of Space Commerce, and a member of the International Institute of Space Law, Chris was the co-author of Europe's first work on space privatization and commercialization, "A Space For Enterprise; the aerospace industries after government monopoly", Stott & Watson, Adam Smith Institute, London, 1994. Chris has also contributed to a number of other publications, most recently “Space Commerce”, Morris & Cox September, 2010.

Alex Downie OBEChair

Alexander Frank Downie FIMarEST MCMI FFB OBE, was a member of the Legislative Council of the Isle of Man and a former Trade and Industry Minister of the Government. He was a Member of the House of Keys from 1991 until his election to the Legislative Council in 2005. Before going into politics, he was a marine seagoing engineer for various companies and self-employed in the heating maintenance business. He is now in an independent role as an appraiser and consultant researching antique firearms and military and vintage Italian motorcycles.

Mr. Christopher HallBoard Member

Chris started his career at BT and gained extensive experience in a range of different roles including sales management, business development, troubleshooting and service management in the UK and in Europe. In April 2011 Chris become Deputy Chairman of Manx Telecom with specific responsibility for advising on growth initiatives and in March 2014 he left the Board following Manx Telecom's successful flotation on the AIM market. Today Chris has a portfolio of non executive directorships in a range of different sectors including telecoms, financial services, medical technology and e-business. He is also an angel investor in several technology companies and offers advice to entrepreneurs on how to grow and develop their business.

Chris is an active supporter of the IOM Government’s vision to make the Island a leading offshore centre for e-business. He was a member of the Government’s Can Do Economic Strategy task force and led the 2013 project to develop the Isle of Man's ICT Strategy. He is also actively involved in the local community and is currently Chairman of the IOM Government's eGaming Strategic Advisory Group, a Board Member of the Manx ICT Association (MICTA), a member of the Chamber of Commerce IT Committee and a Governor at Isle of Man Hospice Care.

Dr. Christian SallabergerBoard Member

Dr. Christian Sallaberger has over 30 years of industrial leadership and Canadian and European agency experience in space program development and execution. He is an active member within the international space community, and currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the International Space University, Chairman of the International Space Exploration Committee of the IAF. While working at the Canadian Space Agency Dr. Sallaberger initiated the Canadian government’s Planetary Exploration Program, and subsequently spent 15 years as Vice President and Director of Space Exploration at a multinational space corporation.

Heather GordonBoard Member

Heather joined the ICM Group as Legal Counsel in 2013. She has a unique background in business and commercial aviation and specialises in aviation finance and security, with a particular focus on Isle of Man aviation holding structures. Heather is a key member of the group's business development team and attends shows and conferences. She has also presented to aviation conferences internationally. Heather holds an LLM in International Business Law from King's College London and graduated from an executive MBA in space business in 2012.

Dr Helmut KesslerBoard Member

Dr Helmut Kessler is CEO of Manx Precision Optics Ltd. He spent 17 years with CVI Technical Optics before founding MPO in 2013. A graduate first class of the International Space University Executive MBA Program, Dr. Kessler is also a Member of the Board of Trustees of the International Space University in Strasbourg.

Dr Ramin KadeemBoard Member

Dr. Ramin Khadem has been a Consultant to the Satellite and Telecom Sector since October 2004. Dr. Khadem served as Chief Financial Officer of Inmarsat Plc, Inmarsat Investments Limited, Inmarsat Leasing (Two) Ltd., Inmarsat Finance PLC and Inmarsat Launch Company Limited until July 30, 2004. He served as Chief Financial Officer of Inmarsat Ventures Limited since 1993. He served as Chief Financial Officer Inmarsat Group Holdings Limited since 2003 and its Principal Accounting Officer until 2004. He served as Principal Accounting Officer of Inmarsat Finance PLC, Inmarsat Investments Limited and Inmarsat Limited, Inmarsat Group Limited, Inmarsat Ventures Limited, Inmarsat Leasing (Two) Limited and Inmarsat Launch Company Limited. From 1981 to 1985, Dr. Khadem was one of the Finance Managers of Inmarsat Ventures Limited and from 1985 to 1993, he served as its Finance Director. Prior to joining Inmarsat Ventures Limited, from 1976, he held various positions at Teleglobe Canada, including as Marketing Director and Manager of Economics and Market research. From 1974 to 1975, he served for Bell Canada as a Consultant in demand studies and from 1972 to 1974, as a Senior Supervising Analyst. From 1970 to 1974, he served as a Consultant in the telecommunications, health and energy sectors for a consulting firm in Canada. He has been Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the International Space University (ISU) since February 2004. He has been a Non-Executive Independent Director of Soho China Ltd. since May 11, 2007. Dr. Khadem serves as a Director of NesscoInvsat Telecommunications Limited. He has been Member of Advisory Board of Near Earth LLC and ManSat Limited. He served as a Director of Rydex Corporation Ltd. and AIRIA Limited. He served as Executive Director of Inmarsat Finance PLC, Inmarsat Investments Limited and Inmarsat Limited, Inmarsat Ventures Limited, Inmarsat Leasing (Two) Limited and Inmarsat Launch Company Limited. Dr. Khadem served as Board Member of Inmarsat Group Holdings Limited since December 2003. He served as an Executive Director of Inmarsat plc. (Manager of Inmarsat Group Ltd. and Inmarsat Holdings Limited) until July 30, 2004. He served as Non Executive Director of Inmarsat Global Limited until July 30, 2004. Dr. Khadem obtained BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois in 1967 and received MA and Ph.D. in Economics from McGill University in 1970 and 1974, respectively. Dr. Khadem has also received specialized training in the following topics: Time Series and Forecasting from Carnegie-Mellon, Econometric analyses of the Financial and Monetary System from MIT and the Executive Management Forum from Harvard Business School.

About the IISC

The Institute’s mission is to become the leading think-tank in the study of the economics of space. It is intended to be the intellectual home for the Industry and Space Academia around the world for which it shall perform studies, evaluations and provide services to all interested parties with the ultimate aim to promote and enhance world’s space commerce to the general public.